Wednesday, October 28, 2015

rough loss (and picks for week 8)

Ouch..rough loss by the Mets last night. The kind of loss that lingers with you for days, weeks, maybe even years. I mean, you gave up an inside the park HR to start the game, and then fighting back to have a chance to close it out...and then Alex Gordon. Oh well. cmblue made fun of Bartolo Colon too. I guess baseball is the only sport (and maybe only pitchers) where nobody cares about physical fitness. Maybe kickers in football too.

NBA started last night, somebody won, somebody lost. I'll let you know when the season actually starts in February.

Last week wasn't great for the pick train. EP did ok with an 8-5 record, and I was 7-7, so at least it wasn't a losing week, but not great. That brings me to 51-35-3 (.573) and EP is catching up 46-34-3 (.554).

Patriots -8 vs Dolphins
I don't think i've picked a thursday night game correctly yet. (editor's note: blue is actually 1-5 in thursday night games) Forget about the spread, I can't even pick who wins the game straight up. I watched the 1st half of the Pats game on Sunday, then I went to Legoland. I had more fun at Legoland. Brady didn't look great, but really lots of drops from his receivers. The defense isn't very good. But they still win. Dolphins have rode the Dan Campbell wave of emotion for 2 weeks. Ok, so they beat the shitty Texans and the shitty Titans. Things get real this week, and no amount of inspiration and big speeches and emotions will help. I don't think the Dolphins can hang, no real reason other than the Patriots are better. Pats win this one going away 41-17.

Lions +4.5 vs Chiefs
Dude, another game in London. This is the third game, right, are there more? (editor's note: no, there are no more London games this year) I did watch some of the game on Yahoo last week, i wasn't too concerned about it. Lions fired their OC right before they go to London, and Jim Bob takes over. I think you'll see some improvement, just from the shake-up. (see dolphins above). Wait, how fucked do the Chiefs have to feel, they have one of the best home field advantages, and they have to trade a home game for a game in London..fuck you Goodell, why can't the Lions be the home team? Anyway, all that leads to a Lions win 31-28.

Falcons -7.5 vs Bucs
That's a lot of points for a team that barely beat Zach Mettenberger. I think they were embarrassed last week, and respond this week. Their at home where they play well, and they actually played better but had a bunch of dumb penalties. Bucs have to be distraught after blowing the big lead against the skins last week. That's the type of loss that sticks with you. Kind of like blowing a save on a HR in the ninth in the world series. Falcons get right this week 31-21.

Cardinals -4.5 vs Browns
This is a line like the Falcons/Titans last week that didn't make any sense to me. Although the browns have played just about everyone tough, i think, I don't know, i'm not looking it up. Apparently McNown is hurt but he's going to play because Johnny Football is awful or something. At what point do you turn the keys over to Manziel. I know McNown isn't the problem, but in the end, you should start making up your mind now if you need to draft another QB next year. Cardinals outside on the road, in the eastern time zone, daylight savings, short week, lots of stuff. I'll take the cardinals 43-25

Rams -9.5 vs 49ers
This is more about the 9ers being awful on the road, than it is about the Rams being good. This line is too high, and will probably come down by kickoff because the Rams shouldn't be 9.5 point favorites over anyone, ever. Rams do have a great running game, and Todd Gurley is the truth. They have an awesome pass rush. 9ers have had some extra time to prepare, but last we saw them, they looked awful against an average seahawks team. I've gone back and forth a bunch on this one, just because of the line, but I'll go with the Rams here 24-10.

Giants +3 vs Saints
Not sure why the saints are favored here. I guess they've been better the past few weeks, but so have the Giants. G-men are the better team, simply because the saints defense is awful. i don't have much else to say about this. Giants win 27-24

Bears (pick'em) vs Vikings
These are the types of games that the Vikings have to win if they want to be serious about the playoffs. These are the types of games the Bears have to win to show they've improved some. I like John Fox, and I like what the Bears have done the last few weeks. Bears should have all their weapons back this week, and I like all their weapons better than the Vikings weapons. This is the type of game that John Fox finds a way to win. 21-20 bears eek one out

Ravens -3 vs Chargers
Something's gotta give here. The Chargers are 0-3 on the road, the Ravens are 0-2 at home, both teams are riduculously under achieving. I give the Ravens the edge because of the east coast early game rule for west coast teams. Phyllis Rivers has been pretty damn good, but he's throwing it like 70 times a game. (editors note: he's averaging 44 attempts per game this season, and 62 attempts per game the last 2 games) Flacco on the other hand is throwing it a lot as well, and he doesn't have any wide receivers other than Steve Smith Sr, or jr or whatever. (editors note: flacco is averaging 41 pass attempts per game). I don't know what any of this means, but i'll take the ravens 24-17

Bengals (pick'em) vs Steelers
Big Ben should be back, but will he be 100%. He better be against a great defense like the Bengals. I'd feel more comfortable about taking the steelers if Ben had a few games back under his belt. Dalton is playing really well, and this doesn't have the feel of a collapse for them. The Bengals are coming off the bye, should be ready and rested. If the Bengals can win this game, it will essentially wrap up the division for them with a 4 game lead and all the tie breakers, which really make it a 5 game lead. I like it. Bengals win this one big time 31-20.

Titans (off) vs Texans
I guess there's no line because they aren't sure if Mariota is going to play? Or are they waiting on news about TJ Yates? I made a deal that I wasn't taking the Texans again this season and i'm sticking with it. Titans win 10-9

Jets -1 vs Raiders
Jets have to fly cross country after a tough road loss last week. Rumor has it that the Jets were pissed that they blew that game. I didn't watch the 2nd half (legoland remember), but i heard that Brandon Marshall false started or something and the clock ran off when they were in position to tie the game. And he dropped a pass, and now he doesn't like Greg Hardy. So to recap, Jets maybe could have won, but I was at legoland. The Raiders on the other hand, they look awesome. They're young and so I expect them to be up and down a lot. This will be a down week, just too tough of a defense, and I'd expect Revis to just take away Amari Cooper. And with no Cooper, there is no bueno for Derek Carr. Jets win this one pretty easily 28-17.

Seahawks -6 vs Cowboys
Matt Cassel. Seahawks win 31-10

Packers -3 vs Broncos
This is not a reverse jinx business. I think the Broncos have won games against a weak schedule and some really bad QBs. It's one of those fools gold type of 6-0 runs, like they had the first year McDaniels was their head coach. Not only have they played a bunch of weak QBs, but it's not like the defenses they've had to face have been much better. The Vikings probably had the best defense they've faced so far this year. The broncos main problem has been lack of finishing off drives and having to settle for FGs. Can't do that against Aaron Rodgers. The schedule gets a lot tougher starting this week, and the Packer's defense is no joke. I don't think the Pack's offense has looked that great, i mean Aaron Rodgers is still awesome, but the Pack has only been over 30 points in 2 games so far this season, so not putting up Pack like numbers. I'll go with the averages here, I think the broncos keep it close but eventually lose this one to the Packers 27-23.

Colts +7.5 vs Panthers
Colts have been awful this year. Panthers have been really good. Colts can't run the ball, can't protect Andrew Luck, can't win games. Panthers have run the ball, played great defense and have Cam. I don't know why, but I just have a weird feeling about this game. Colts backs are up against the wall. Cam Newton is maybe too immature and the panthers are feeling too good about themselves. I kind of like the colts in an upset with their season on the line. Colts win 24-20.

"To all the people that have a problem with me being injured you guys go out there and play this sport it's a 100% injury rate," Watkins' now-deleted Instagram comment said. "I'm not first or last person that's gone be injured difference from me and you guys y'all mad and I'm not get a life and goto work stop worrying about my job because I'm good on this end and forever will be losers most of you just wish to be in this position so continue working y'all little jobs for the rest of y'all lives since everyone once a response here go one have a blessed day."

Barrett, 20, was arrested after trying to avoid a DUI checkpoint near the Ohio State campus, a source told ESPN. He failed a Breathalyzer test and was released to teammate and fellow quarterback Cardale Jones, according to the source.

Well played, Cardale. Well played. That's one way to get to be the starter again